[Animats]

Just-in-time manufacturing came from automotive, which has a long history of the major automakers exerting tight control over their suppliers. Really tight control, like the ability to send in inspectors for a no-notice quality audit, and the right to look at a supplier's financial records. That control has loosened in recent years, as suppliers have become bigger and not totally focused on automotive.

If you have a just-in-time manufacturing operation and your suppliers are more powerful than you are, you're very vulnerable.